Examples Of Futile Theme In The Great Gatsby

The concept of theme is unique to each book. Themes can vary from topics like love, hope, or even loss. In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald uses the theme “chasing the unattainable is futile” to develop the storyline and illustrate crucial moments his characters lives. Fitzgerald embeds a variety of literary techniques to illustrate the theme of chasing the unattainable is futile, such as tone, diction, and foreshadowing. Fitzgerald’s subtle use of tone is evident throughout specific incidences in the story. Nick’s desire to model his life after Gatsby’s is shown by Fitzgerald through a positive connotation in Nick’s retrospect. Nick was in awe of Gatsby, and recalled “only Gatsby… who represented everything for

In the telling of Daisy’s past, readers learn she aspired to grasp both a financially secure and joy-filled future, one where her daughter Pammy could be a “beautiful fool” (Fitzgerald 21), meaning she would live in ignorance towards cheating, which was something Daisy herself was blatantly aware of. Readers can begin to see the dream as ineffectual through Daisy’s perspective. She had become “pretty cynical about everything,” and had begun to “think everything’s terrible anyhow” (Fitzgerald 21). Fitzgerald shows this was because she was not happy with Tom, and that she had “never loved him” (Fitzgerald 139). Daisy’s option on being financially secure had resulted in her unhappiness, while her dream of being happy with Gatsby would lower her social status. Fitzgerald demonstrates that Daisy could not have both, and her dream of this was

As Nick and Gatsby waited for Daisy’s arrival, Gatsby realized the meeting was “a terrible, terrible mistake” (Fitzgerald 92). This moment of clarity allowed Gatsby to see that winning back Daisy was impossible, and that their lives had changed dramatically in the last five years. Nick expands this thought by saying “[he] wouldn’t ask too much of her… you can’t repeat the past” (Fitzgerald 116). However, Gatsby’s determination to succeed and “fix everything just the way it was before” (Fitzgerald 117) while protecting her from Tom ultimately led to his death. Another aspect where foreshadowing is prevalent is Tom’s animosity towards Gatsby. From his brutal speculation of Gatsby’s past to his outright tantram that irritated Nick, Tom’s dominance over every aspect of Daisy’s life foreshadowed Gatsby’s attempt to win her back would be dismissed. Eventually, Tom bluntly asks, “What kind of row are you trying to cause in my house anyhow?” (Fitzgerald 136). This shows readers that Gatsby never had a chance at getting Daisy back, because Tom was simply too